BJ Taylor- The Most Under Appreciated Player in College Basketball

He is the most important part of UCF’s basketball’s present and future. A player that the Knights have struggled without. In fact UCF looks like a completely different team without him. He is the heart and soul of UCF basketball. The unquestioned leader. And I bet you couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. Oh you thought I was talking about Tacko Fall didn’t you? Nope there is a better and more critical player on the UCF team. That player is BJ Taylor. For the common/ casual fan, you might be thinking who is BJ Taylor? And that’s a damn shame. Because when it is all said and done, BJ Taylor might already be the greatest guard that the Knights have ever had. Our own little version of Kemba Walker. BJ Taylor has become the player that UCF can not afford to lose especially with March coming up. You see even though Tacko Fall has stolen all of the spotlight from BJ, there is no denying that BJ is the engine that makes UCF go. Yet he remains overshadowed by a 7'6 player. And that’s ok, because that’s where BJ Taylor shines brightest.

BJ Taylor is averaging 16.9 points per game and a 43 % field goal percentage. He has been outstanding in conference play averaging 17.5 points a game. That is impressive, but let us dig into his numbers a big more shall we? BJ has a 19 Player effiency Rating which is the highest PER that any guard has had in UCF history. BJ’s efficient field goal percentage is at 47%. Taylor’s true shooting percentage is at 53%, which is one of the best amongst guards in the AAC. If the Knights had 100 possesions per game, Taylor is projected to be averaging 29 points per game. Needless to say he’s been really really good. But the most impressive stat is the amount of times BJ has been able to get to the free throw line. Taylor’s 124 free throw attempts so far this year is third in the American. He has also increased his free throw percentage to 75% up 5% from last year’s total. In every single area Taylor has approved. Do you you know who Taylor’s stats compare to? None other than Kemba Walker. And that’s funny cause Kemba and BJ have a lot in common.

When BJ Taylor steps to the court, fans should take notice. BJ has a type of pressence that commands respect. A perpetual badass that should be respected. by fans and other teams alike. And yet he’s not even the most talked about player on UCF’s team. That goes to 7'6 center Tacko Fall. All the press and UCF fanbase talks about is Tacko. How big Tacko is, how he is UCF’s 1st round NBA draft pick. Blah, blah, blah. People forget about BJ and that is a mistake. You see BJ Taylor can take over a game on a whim. Yes, he has gotten off to cold starts before, but when it is crunch time BJ will take a game over. He will put the Knights on his back and try to make up for the other players performances. Just look at his games against SMU, Memphis, Tulsa, Houston, Cincinnati. Taylor brought the Knights to striking distance. If not for BJ, the Knights would probably have been blown out against the top tier of the AAC. Instead BJ’s ability and heart will not allow the Knights to be blown out. That is why I compare him to Kemba. Hell just look at the game against Villanova. BJ went toe to toe with the best backcourt in college basketball. Whenever it looked like Nova was going to pull away, BJ had an answer. He is the player all UCF fans and alumni should cherish.

But when you hear UCF talk, it’s not about BJ. It’s always “Tacko and Co.” Listen I get it, the carnival sideshow will always be popular. But fans need to appreciate BJ more. This is a kid that is in the top 5 for points per game at 16.6 and top 10 in assists at 3.7 within the American. And yet UCF fans make it appear that Tacko is playing with a bunch of bums. Let us not forget what UCF looks like without BJ. We have a whole season as a sample size. Last year without Taylor, UCF was the 185 team according to KenPom. The offense was 218 in the country and the defense was 157th. Know who did play last year? Tacko. Yes he was a freshman last year, but as we have seen, Tacko needs BJ. Needs that layer that can single handily take over the game from the guard position. It’s no coincidence that players like Nick Banyard, Matt Williams, etc are all having career years. That is in no small part because BJ Taylor is back and is able to have defenses help on him which causes other players to benefit. Taylor makes everyone around him better. He is the key to UCF’s resurgence.

BJ Taylor is the best guard in modern UCF history. Please try and name another one. Rompza? Jordan? BJ Taylor has better stats than all of them. You see we are watching a special player for UCF. One that fans have been asking for. And yet there is one thing missing: BJ has never played in a post season tournament. We of course can fault Donnie Jones and his awful “coaching”(I use that term loosely as Jones was more of a used car salesman than coach). Hell until this year, BJ didn’t know what a winning record looked like. But now the Knights are poised to make a run int the NIT and maybe just maybe win the conference tournament. And no one for UCF is hitting their stride better than Taylor. In 12 out of his last 13 games Taylor has scored in double digits. That is impressive.

But it is Taylor’s attitude that is propelling the Knights into a strong post season push. This is why I call him Kemba 2.0. Just look at the game against Temple. Twice Taylor hit the shot that put UCF ahead. Then when it looked like Temple was going to get an offensive rebound to take the lead, it was BJ Taylor that went amongst the trees and got the rebound. Fighting off a forward and center for the ball. That was pure heart and pure determination something that UCF has been missing. If UCF does make the NCAA Tournament somehow, it will probably be because Taylor willed them to a conference tournament championship.

BJ Taylor is not the most well known player. Hell even some UCF fans confuse him for Matt Williams. But there is no denying that BJ is the heart and soul of UCF basketball. It’s ok if you don’t know his name or how important he is. BJ will just sit back and let his play do the talking.